Definitive History

The land that makes up Clay County, Florida, today has been home to an array of diverse inhabitants throughout its long history. Timucua Indian villages, Spanish missions, English plantations and American forts have all sprung up from Clay County's lush landscape, along the majestic St. Johns river and beyond. The history of the county has been wrought by the struggles of tribes and nations; the endeavors of settlers and soldiers.

In this in-depth look at Clay County's vibrant past, local historian Kevin Hooper sheds light on the stories behind these various influences, and examines the development of the region from the pre-colonial period to the onset of the Civil War. Hooper calls upon a breadth of archival primary source material, and combines it with findings from recent archaeological discoveries in the region to provide an accessible and balanced work. The Early History of Clay County truly offers a comprehensive consideration of the factors and factions that have shaped the past in this fascinating area of northeastern Florida.

Discover the growth and transformation of Sarasota, Florida from deserted land of milk and honey to the thriving, charming community it is today.

Sarasota, Florida was not always the thriving urban community that residents know today. This popular tourist destination on the Gulf Coast began its course of modern development with the Homestead Act of 1862 and a promise to the inhabitants of Scotland that the land awaiting them in Florida was one of ""milk and honey where gold grew on trees."" Little did the first settlers know that within a hundred years the deserted land they then called home would transform itself not only into a bustling real estate and tourism hub, but also into a charming community with a personality all its own. From the 1920s to the 1960s, the Gulf Coast town was described as ""a community where no one was a stranger."" In the 1920s, however, a clairvoyant full-page ad in the Sarasota Herald predicted, ""Sarasota's Growth Cannot Be Stopped."" Indeed it couldn't. Sarasota soon became nationally known for its connection to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, its famous art museum, and its celebration of modern architecture. A long time resident of Sarasota, Florida, Jeff LaHurd's ninth published work is his most comprehensive account of Sarasota's history to date. In this precise exploration of the city's history, LaHurd masterfully chronicles the lives lived and the fluctuating growth of Sarasota.